CHAPTER 29
After one last day, they were told they were just minutes from River Run. Skylar sat on the floor of the boat, Rollo's head resting on her lap, while Ian was helping steer. She fixed the scarf around her neck for the millionth time. Though the marks Bonnet had left were practically gone, she still felt nervous about Jocasta being able to see them at all, so she wanted to make sure they were as hidden as possible.
She watched Jamie and Claire who were a little ways from her. Jamie still hadn't spoken to her or even looked at her. She had tried talking to him about it again the day before and once more earlier this morning. Claire had too, but he refused to listen.
"If I'm not te blame then who?" he kept saying. "I helped that bastard escape the noose. If I hadna done that…"
She turned her attention to Captain Freeman as he announced, "There she is, folks. River Run."
Skylar stood up to look and her mouth dropped. Even in her own time, she had never seen a house so big. It looked more like an elegant Bed and Breakfast than someone's home.
"Christ," Ian muttered in astonishment as he and Skylar joined the others. "Uncle Jamie, ye didna tell us Great-Aunt Jocasta has a home befittin' a king."
"It is palace-like," Skylar agreed. She looked up at Jamie, wanting to share a look of excitement. He made himself try to look at her, wanting so badly to give her the support he knew she needed from him. But at seeing the girl who he had let be hurt, smiling and eyes shining, all he felt was guilt.
He quickly looked away from her. "Help us ashore, lad," he said to Ian, walking away to the other side of the boat. Ian went into the cabin to get their belongings, taking Rollo with him.
Skylar sighed, watching Jamie all but run from her.
It relieved her some that Ian had stopped saying, at least out loud, that he was responsible. But for who she thought of as her foster dad to be eaten alive by guilt as well was just as unbearable. Though there was one voice in her head that was telling her there was a different reason that Jamie couldn't be around her. But she was trying so hard to silence that voice.
She was brought out of her thoughts by Ian saying, "Would ye give me the honor of helpin' the beautiful maiden out of her grand ship?" He was standing on the deck where the boat had docked. He bowed to her and held out his hand.
She laughed and jokingly curtsied back. "The honor is all mine, sir." She took his hand and he helped her off, which was no more than just an easy step onto a stair that had been put out.
On the deck, they stood facing each other. Skylar had her arms wrapped around his waist, and Ian held her by the hips. Just looking at him in this brief moment, she could feel herself falling more deeply in love with him than she had been the day before. He felt the same as he bent down to kiss her.
"Oh! I nearly forgot," he thought aloud. Skylar watched him as he climbed back onto the boat and went into the cabin. He returned not 10 seconds later, holding a small bouquet of flowers.
"What're those for?" she asked as he rejoined her.
"They're fer Great-Aunt Jocasta. I thought she might like them."
"You are quite the gentleman, Youngin'." He smiled at her and took her hand, leading them up to where Jamie and Claire had already met with the older woman. They could see she wasn't that tall but from the way she held herself, she could be the biggest person in any room she was in. She had grey hair put up in a high bun and had a very kind face lined with just the beginnings of wrinkles. If they hadn't already seen her house, they would be able to tell she was wealthy from her richly designed dress.
Skylar would be lying if she said she wasn't nervous to meet Jocasta Cameron. She so wanted Jamie's aunt to like her. She hoped with her entire soul that she would marry into this family one day, so it was very important that such a highly respected member of the Mackenzie clam deemed her acceptable.
Jamie turned when he heard them approaching.
"And this is yer great-nephew, Ian Murray. Jenny's youngest son," he introduced.
"I'm verra pleased te meet ye, Great-Aunt Jocasta," Ian greeted her, handing her the flowers.
"Yer welcome, lad," she said back, her voice very soothing and calm. Skylar was confused why she didn't take the flowers, or why Jocasta didn't acknowledge she was there as well. She looked up at Jamie and saw he was just as confused.
But they figured out what was wrong when the African American man standing behind Jocasta leaned to her ear and said, "Your great-nephew has brought you a posy of flowers, mistress."
"Oh, thank ye kindly, Ian. Forgive me," she said, taking the bouquet. "It is a long time since me sight has left me, though I still see shapes and shadows."
"I'm sorry te hear, Great-Auntie," Ian responded.
"Oh, fear not, lad. It has been a blessin'. I am now gifted wi' hearin' that would be the envy of many'a gossip. And the ability te scent truth from lies, if ye catch me meanin'." Skylar giggled at that, which caused Jocasta's head to turn to her. "Is there a younger lass here as well?"
Skylar's face flushed and she retook Ian's hand out of sudden nerves.
"Aye," Jamie answered. "This is Skylar. She's the girl Ian is courtin'."
"Thank you so much for allowing me into your home, Mistress Cameron," Skylar said to her.
"Oh, yer more than welcome, me dear," Jocasta replied. "Jamie told me in his letter that yer as much family as though our blood flowed through ye. And bein' in a courtship with me great-nephew, hopefully ye'll be an official part'a kin soon."
Both Skylar and Ian turned bright red. They glanced at each other, and Skylar let out an embarrassed laugh.
Claire smiled and told Jocasta, "We're not trying to rush anything." They were brought out of the awkward moment with Rollo barking and running past the group.
"Oh, goodness. Who have we there? Another acquaintance te be made?" Jocasta wondered.
"Young Ian's mongrel, Rollo," Jamie explained. "Take hold'a yer beast, lad."
"Come back, Rollo!" Ian called to the dog, chasing after him.
Knowing catching Rollo by himself would be difficult, Skylar said, "I'm gonna help him." She looked to Jamie and saw him give her a single nod of approval, looking down. She stared at him a beat longer, then ran after Ian and Rollo.
As everyone else went inside the massive mansion, the pair tried for a good 15 minutes to get hold of the dog, but it was clear he just wanted to run around and play. So they gave up and sat on the ground. Skylar rested her head on Ian's shoulder and he placed a hand on her knee, and they both just watched Rollo chase bugs and roll around in the dirt.
"Can ye imagine growin' up in a house like this," he thought out loud, staring up towards the estate. She raised her head to look at it too.
"You and your brothers and sisters could've each had your own room."
He chuckled. "Not only the house, but the land with it is so big that we might actually be able te escape Uncle Jamie's watch once or twice while we're here." He kissed her cheek, making her half smile.
Still looking forward, she answered, "That shouldn't be too hard considering he won't even look at me."
Ian took her hand, trying to reassure her in a small way. "He's just angry over…everythin', Yank. He'll come around soon."
"You don't, um…y-you don't think he, he could…"
"He could what?"
"You don't think part of him is angry at me, do you?" She had been thinking this since she first tried to talk to Jamie the day before. She didn't want it to be true, but part of her couldn't help but think some of his negativity was towards her directly.
"How could ye think he would be mad at ye? Ye didna do anythin'."
"I was touched by a man in a way an unwed girl shouldn't be. More than how you kiss me or hold me or whatever. He doesn't think I'm ruined or something like that?"
"I can promise ye, he doesna think that at all. Ye needna worry about that fer a moment longer. Ye ken yer as good as his own daughter. He's angry because ye were hurt and, him feelin' as though he's yer Da, it destroys him that he couldna kill Bonnet himself then and there. He doesna blame ye fer anythin'." He watched as she took a large breath in and let it out slowly, her gaze locked on a random spot in front of her. He could read in her face that she somewhat believed what he was saying, but that she still felt such responsibility for Jamie's guilt. "That does make me think though," he said, suddenly changing the subject. "If we are te marry like Great-Aunt Jocasta said," Skylar turned to him with her eyebrows raised, very intrigued as to where he was going with this, "and ye bein' more Uncle Jamie's daughter than anythin', would he just be me Uncle still, or would he be me father-in-law?"
Him asking that question so serious and straight faced, like it was really something that was weighing on his mind, made her laugh so purely and wholeheartedly. She fell onto her back, still laughing with her hands clapped over her mouth.
"I'm just sayin'," he went on, "If I'm te call him Da one day, I should start now so he and I can get used te it, should I no?" He looked down at Skylar on the ground, laughing joyfully and smiling wide; which was what he was trying to make her do. Her face lit up when she smiled and it was killing him seeing her eyes dim, even for that brief couple minutes.
When she calmed down, she sat back up. Still lightly giggling, she pressed her forehead into Ian's shoulder and asked, "Omigod, Youngin'. How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make me happy all the time, even when I don't want to be." She put her chin on his shoulder and faced up at him. He smiled at her and kissed her, not for long but affectionately.
He looked back at Rollo, but Skylar stared at him for another beat before resting her head back on his shoulder. She closed her eyes, just enjoying this moment of peace. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.
"What in Christ's name is that?" Ian asked. Skylar looked up and when she saw what he meant her eyes widened and she stood right up.
"We need to get Rollo inside, like, now," she told him. Ian followed her action.
"Why? What is it?"
Rollo was facing off with a skunk, and Skylar knew this could only end badly.
Ignoring Ian's question, she called to the dog, "Rollo! Come here! Come here, boy!" He did not obey her commands. She didn't want to get any closer to the wild animal than she had to, so she tried again from her spot. "Rollo, come! Come!"
His curiosity too piqued, the dog stalked closer to the mystery animal and barked loudly at it, making it run away. And, of course, Rollo couldn't leave it alone. He bolted after it, barking the whole way. His humans just stood, watching the ordeal play out; one being very on edge while the other had no idea what was happening. When the dog had chased the rodent to the end of the dock where it couldn't escape, Skylar started screaming obscenities in her head as she saw the skunk turn around and lift its tail, spraying it's foul smelling weapon at its aggressor. Rollo yelped and leapt backwards, proceeding to run back to the lawn and race in circles to try to get away from the stench.
"Jesus! Fucking hell!" Skylar exclaimed as the odor hit hers and Ian's noses. She covered her nose and mouth with her hands, desperately trying not to breathe it in.
"What the hell is that?" Ian cried, doing the same.
"Just get the rope around him!" He followed her order. He picked up the rope he had retrieved from the boat when they had tried to catch him and nearly tackled Rollo to get it on him. Once he did, he started leading the dog to the house.
"Shit, don't go in the house," Skylar muttered and ran after them. But by the time she caught up, Ian had burst through the front door with the skunked dog.
"Ian, what happened te ye?" Jamie questioned. Everyone in the room and the next were trying to stop themselves from inhaling the smell.
"Rollo chased a creature I've never seen before, somethin' akin to a badger, black though streaked with white. Skylar tried te get him away from it, but before she could, it lifted its tail and sprayed a foul liquid from its arse. The stench, it burns me eyes!"
"Ye encountered a skunk, lad," Jocasta calmly told him.
"A skunk? Is that venomous?" Jamie asked.
"No, just malodorous," Claire told him.
"It may as well be venomous! I feel like I'm gonna pass out," Skylar commented.
"As luck would have it, me friend John Quincy Meyers is visitin'. He's a man of the wild who can rid yer mongrel of the stench," Jocasta said.
Thank God in Heaven, Skylar thought.
"Thank ye, Great-Aunt," Ian said, sighing in relief.
"Ulysses, will ye ask Myers te meet Ian at the front of the house, near the jetty?" Jocasta requested of her manservant.
"Yes, Mistress," he answered.
"We need to get him outside before he stinks up the whole house," Skylar told Ian and promptly walked out, him following with Rollo.
They went down as close to the river as they could. Poor Rollo wouldn't stop whining. He kept pawing at his nose, trying not to smell either. Skylar and Ian couldn't help but feel bad he was so uncomfortable.
Ian knelt down to him and said, "Don't worry, boy. We're gonna get ye clean." He breathed too close to the dog though and the stink made him gag. He stood back up and asked Skylar, "Ye kent what animal that was right away?"
She nodded. "That's why I tried to call him back. I know how bad a skunk's spray is."
"They have these up north as well?"
"Oh yeah. This is one animal that's all over this country unfortunately."
They were interrupted by one of the slaves, who looked to be in his very early 20s, walking over with a large tub and a bag of extra supplies.
"For the dog's bath," he told them as he set both down, not looking right at them.
"Thank you, um…I'm sorry, what's your name?" Skylar asked.
The man had a quick look of shock and confusion over her question, but he brought his face back to neutral quickly. Looking even further down, he answered, "Rufus, Miss."
"Thank you, Rufus, for bringing everything out to us."
"Is there anything else you'll be needing from me at the moment?"
"No, we're okay. Thank you." He gave a deep nod and turned and walked away.
"He was taken from Africa," Skylar stated when he was gone. "I could hear his accent. He's not supposed to be here. He should be home."
She thought back to when she and everyone had first arrived in Jamaica, and Jamie and Claire stopped her from coming with them to the slave market. She was now very glad they had. Claire had been right, studying something and living it are two very different things. Though she had taken multiple history classes in school that covered slavery in the American South, actually seeing slaves working on a plantation and her not being able to do anything about it to help them broke her heart and made her feel horrible guilt. The fact that Rufus would have been arrested or worse if he had looked her in the eye when he spoke to her was gut wrenching.
Ian could feel her distress. He didn't know what to say, so he just held her hand and squeezed it.
"Is that a wolf masqueradin' as a dog?" a voice said behind them, bringing Skylar out of her thoughts. They turned and saw a man, looking twice Skylar's height with a full bushy beard, coming towards them. "I sincerely hope he isna partial te human flesh."
"Only if yer thickly bearded," Ian joked, making the man, who they assumed was Jocasta's wilderness friend, laugh.
"Well, I shall take me chances. John Quincy Myers," he introduced, confirming their assumptions.
"Ian Murray. And this is Skylar Kelley, me lass."
"Very nice to meet you Mr. Myers," she said.
"Pleased te meet ye both. Though I wish it was through different circumstances. A dalliance with a skunk is no laughin' matter," Myers stated.
"Trust me, I know. I tried to get poor Rollo away from it, but as you can smell, I couldn't," Skylar told him.
"Yer from here, aye? Ye ken well these sorts'a creatures?" She nodded. "How did ye come te be attached te a Scot then?"
"It's a…very long story."
Understanding he wasn't going to get the full story at this moment, he turned back to the matter at hand. "Thankfully, Mother Nature, in all her bounty and wisdom, offers us a chance te wash the odor away, bathing in vinegar." He gestured to the bucket he had carried with him, which was filled to the brim with vinegar.
"Well, I'll do whatever it takes. I dinna wish him te go on reekin' like the devil's arse," Ian said.
"Such language in front of a lady, lad," Myers commented.
"It's okay. I've been known to say much worse myself," Skylar assured him. The large man chuckled at that, and took off his jacket so it wouldn't get wet.
"I've been allowin' my beard te grow," Ian shared, believing he could relate to Myers this way. "Seems the men of the mountains hereabouts have hearty ones." Skylar tried to hold in her laugh, but part of it escaped. Ian looked at her. "And what is so funny, then?"
She smiled widely at him. "I love you, Youngin', with my entire heart and being. But this," she said, rubbing his barely there stubble, "is not a beard."
"She's right, boy. Ye've a long wait on yer hands. But me, I take after me daddy. My momma does admire a hairy man. Believes them te be a rare comfort on a cold winter's night, and she's not the only one. The Indian ladies enjoy me hairs well enough."
"Indian ladies like their men hairy?" Ian asked.
"Well, those I've come across certainly do. It is, perhaps, naught but the novelty of me whiskers, come te think of it. Their own men scarcely have bristles on their bollocks lets alone their backsides. Ye take one look at my buttocks, and ye'd think me daddy was a buffalo." The two men laughed at that while Skylar just rolled her eyes in amusement at the "boy talk." "My apologies, Miss Kelley. I shouldna speak of such things in the presence of such a bonny young lass."
"It doesn't bother me. I've heard this one," she said, putting a hand on Ian's shoulder, "and my brother talk about…very similar topics. And fortunately for you," she turned Ian's face to hers, "I'm not an Indian woman. I don't mind my men hairless." She pecked his lips then went to Myers to help him get ready what was needed.
"A rare one ye've got, lad. Hold onte her. Yer verra lucky," Myers told Ian.
"I am indeed," he agreed, smiling at Skylar. She smiled back, then turned back to what she was doing. "What are they like? The Indians?" Ian went on to ask.
"That all depends on the tribe," the mountain man explained. "Some can be friendly, some ye'd do well te stay clear of."
"I've heard there are Indians that will cut yer heart from yer chest and devour it whole. Is that true?"
"Well, I can't say I've come across any who do that exactly. But, there are some who scalp those they consider te be outsiders."
Skylar felt a shiver go up her back at the thought. She prayed they wouldn't come across any of those kinds of Natives in their travels.
"There are clansmen in Scotland who'll do the same. Ye'll no see a Campbell and a MacDonald together, not wi'out it endin' in bloodshed. Indians dinna sound that much different from Highlanders."
"That's a fine way of lookin' at the world, Ian."
Skylar couldn't help but feel some guilt over knowing what was going to happen to the Native Americans. The Trail of Tears wasn't going to happen for some time yet, but the tribes and their people were going to face harsh and cruel treatment from European settlers up until then and long after. She wished she could tell Myers about it, maybe he could help prepare the Natives for what was coming. But she knew that was impossible.
"It's ready, sir," a young black boy said to Myers. He had been helping fill the bath with water from the river.
"Let's bathe this beast of yers before we lose the light entirely," he said to the teenagers.
"Come on, in ye get," Ian ordered Rollo. As if he knew this would help him, Rollo jumped right into the bath. When he did, water splashed all over the three.
"Rollo!" Skylar squealed, putting up her hands to try to block the water; but, of course, to no avail.
As the bath went on, Rollo would not stay still and kept splashing around in the tub. Though their clothes were getting soaked, Skylar and Ian were determined to get as much of the skunk smell off of him as they could.
After a good 25 minutes of scrubbing, the stench was very faint and they decided they were done. More so, however, because nearly all of the water had spilled out and they had nothing left to wash with.
Myers stood up, announcing he was going back to where he was staying to change, and that he would be back for the supplies later. Skylar and Ian thanked him profusely for helping them with their dog. He nodded and grinned at them in appreciation, and walked off.
The young couple headed towards the house, feeling the need to try to get dry as well. They were laughing as they looked over their shoulder back at Rollo rolling around in the dirt and grass trying to dry himself as they walked onto the porch.
"Is that Skylar and Ian I hear?" Jocasta questioned as they started to pass her. They stopped suddenly, not having realized she was there.
"Aye, Great-Auntie," Ian answered. Jamie was with her as well, and among them was another man, dressed in military uniform.
"Lieutenant Wolff, may I introduce te ye, my great-nephew, Ian Murray, and his lass, Skylar Kelley." The Lieutenant stood up and bowed slightly to the two. Ian bowed back and Skylar gave a small curtsey.
"And here I thought I was to only enjoy the beauty of Mistress Cameron while visiting River Run," he said, taking a few steps towards Skylar. He took her hand and kissed it, which lasted an uncomfortably long time.
Skylar was all too used to having to tolerate the unwanted attention of creepy older men, remembering her role in the smuggling business in Edinburgh.
I'm stupid for thinking that was over with, she thought.
He finally let her go and she immediately grasped Ian's hand and held onto his arm, as if sending a message she was spoken for would get him to back off.
"It's wonderful to make your acquaintance, Lieutenant Wolff. For both of us, I'm sure," she said, looking at Ian. His face was flushed with the same anger he felt having watched her go through this time and time again in the city. Only this time it was harder to endure now that she was his.
"Aye, it is," Ian went on, forcing a polite grin.
Skylar looked to Jamie, hoping that some miracle had happened in the last half hour and he would be normal with her again. But no such change had occurred. His body stood facing her, but his eyes were directed to the ground.
She let out a silent breath and just said, "Um, Ian and I were just headed inside to dry off. I'm afraid the bath got on us just as much as on Rollo."
"Of course. Ye'll find Mary inside who'll take ye te ye te yer rooms," Jocasta told them.
"Thank ye, Great-Auntie," Ian said.
They were about to go in when Jocasta stopped them again.
"And Skylar, if ye'll wait a minute in yer room, Phaedra and I will be in te fit ye."
"Fit me for what?"
"New dresses, me dear. Well, not so new as they're older dresses of mine. But they're still lovely and ye'll want some fine clothes fer while yer here."
"Thank you very much, Mistress Cameron. That's very generous."
"It is me pleasure, lass. Now, I ken ye two are anxious te get inside. Go on." With a final acknowledgement to Lieutenant Wolff, Skylar and Ian hurried through the door.
They found Mary, an older Black woman who was another of Jocasta's maids, in the parlor and she led them upstairs. They stopped in front of one door which she told them was Skylar's room.
Skylar opened the door to go in and stood in the doorway, her and Ian saying they would find each other later when Jocasta was done with her. He kissed her cheek and followed Mary to his room.
As Skylar closed the door and turned around, her jaw dropped when she saw the room. This one bedroom was practically the size of Jamie's whole Edinburgh printshop. To her left, there was an enormous four post bed with a canopy on top of it and the blankets were threaded with deep red and gold. Next to the window across from the bed, there was a large wardrobe that nearly reached the ceiling and a gold framed mirror standing next to it. To her right were two chairs that were upholstered with bright colorful floral patterns.
She walked to the small table of white and gold set in the middle of the chairs to pick up one of the folded towels on top of it. As she did, she noticed what she knew was a chamber pot underneath the table that looked like it was made out of silver; much more rich looking than the tin ones she was used to.
Wow, that's a sentence I never thought I'd ever think.
She wiped off the remaining drops of water from her face, chest and neck. She squeezed the towel along her braids to soak up the water from them and rubbed the towel on the front of her dress and sleeves to try to dry the wet spots. Her scarf, since it was such a thin fabric, was still dripping wet. Since there was no worry about Jocasta seeing the marks, Skylar took off the scarf and put it on the table.
She walked to the mirror, wanting to see what they looked like. Most of them were gone, but a couple of the larger ones were still slightly visible. She touched them softly, wishing she could just wipe them away. She pulled the front of her dress down a bit to see the ones on her chest. Like the others, only a few bigger spots were still there.
Hickeys don't scar, right? she thought. She knew they didn't, but a small part of her was afraid that they would never go away and she would have to look at them for the rest of her life and be reminded of that night.
She looked to the door when she heard a knock.
"Come in," she called. The door opened and Jocasta stepped into the room with Phaedra following behind her carrying what Skylar could already tell was a gorgeous dress.
"We're not disturbin' ye, I hope," Jocasta said to her.
"No, not at all," Skylar told her.
As Jocasta sat in one of the chairs, she said, "I've brought one of me favorite dresses from when I was younger te fit fer ye. I do hope ye like it."
"It's very lovely." Phaedra held the dress up for the girl to get a better look at it. It was floor length with a full skirt, and the neckline was just off the shoulder. The sleeves were three-quarter length and ended in three layers of white lace ruffles. The outer fabric was a pure white with pink flowers all connected by thin green leafy vines, and the under layer was just the white. Skylar was almost nervous to put in on, thinking she might not do it justice.
She must've thought that out loud with realizing it because Jocasta argued, "Nonsense. Ye will look absolutely angelic, I'm sure."
It definitely felt very awkward to be undressed by someone she just met. When she had to take her shift off, she tried to cover herself out of modesty, but Phaedra was not the least bit abashed by the sight of the girl's nude body. It was seeing the bruises on Skylar's chest and neck that made her eyes go wide. She let out a small gasp but quickly collected herself. She brought her face back to neutral and went about her work. Skylar was thankful Phaedra didn't comment on them, but having another person pity her was doing nothing to help her move on. But she tried to push all thoughts of her assault away and focus on the gorgeous dress on her body instead.
The dress was a bit big on Skylar when she first put it on, but Phaedra went right to work at pinning it to take it in. When all the needed pins were placed, Phaedra took Skylar's hair out of her two braids and let her hair fall loose down her back.
"And there ye are, Miss Kelley," Phaedra said, stepping back to get a full view of her.
"What do ye think, dear?" Jocasta wondered.
Skylar turned around to face the mirror and she couldn't hold in her gasp at seeing herself. The last time she had worn a dress similar to this was at the governor's ball in Jamaica, and then she wasn't able to enjoy it and didn't want to wear it. Now, she could actually take in the beauty of the dress and that she didn't look horrible in it.
After a beat of silence, Jocasta asked, "Tell me, dear, ye were born here in America, correct?"
"Yes, I was," Skylar answered, that being 100% the truth.
"How is it then that ye were taken in by me nephew in Scotland?"
I knew this was coming, she thought. At least I've finally come up with an actual story to tell.
She turned to face Jamie's aunt and went on to say, "Well, my parents and I had traveled to Scotland because my father had been offered work in Inverness. We were on our way there when we were put upon by Redcoats. After hearing our accents, they believed us to be Patriots who wanted America to become independent from England and did not allow us to argue. I escaped, my parents did not. And then Fergus, who I believe Jamie talked about in his letter, found me alone on the road and took me with him back to Edinburgh and to Jamie."
"I'm heart sorry, Skylar. I ken too well the danger the Redcoats carry." Skylar could see hurt and sadness on the older woman's face and in her sightless eyes. She felt bad that her lie made painful memories come back to her. But Jocasta quickly brought herself out of it and focused back on the dress. "So, how are ye feelin' at this one?"
"It's so beautiful. Are you sure you want me to have it?"
"Quite sure. I've no need fer dresses so youthful anymore."
"Thank you, again, so much, Mistress Cameron."
"Ye'll please call me yer Great-Aunt? Ye'll be married inte this family soon enough, so it's good fer ye te start callin' me that now."
"Oh, um…I-I don't know about that."
"I canna see the looks Ian gives ye with me eyes, but in the few times today when I've been around the two of ye, I can feel betwixt ye the deep burnin' love ye have fer each other. It's the same feelin' me sister Ellen had wi' Jamie's father. I say wi' certainty, if ye two are married wi'in a year, I will no be surprised in the least." Skylar smiled, feeling butterflies in her stomach at the thought of being able to call herself Ian's wife one day, though she knew that was still far off. "Tell me, Phaedra, how does Skylar look in the dress?"
"She looks verra lovely, Miss Jo," Phaedra told her. "The white is quite a flatterin' color on her. Doesna wash her out at all like we feared."
"Ye wouldn't mind, dear, if I asked Phaedra te describe ye te me?" Jocasta asked Skylar.
"Oh, uh, no. No, not at all." Jocasta gestured to her maid to do just that.
The dark skinned woman looked her over and said, "Well, she's no taller than ye, Miss Jo. She's got a nice small waist. A little lackin' in the chest. I've had te take it in quite a bit there." Skylar rolled her eyes at the comment. "Her skin is verra fair and has eyes blue as the sky. And her hair is neither curly nor straight, more like ocean waves. It's the color of dark honey and falls te the middle of her back."
"She sounds like a beautiful young lady," Jocasta commented, smiling. Skylar couldn't help but feel relieved knowing Jocasta approved of her. She felt silly now having worried about that. "We will make sure this dress and a few others are all tailored fer the party at the end of the week."
"Party?" Skylar questioned.
"Of course. I must introduce ye all te me friends and what better way than te host a gatherin' where ye can meet them all at once."
They were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Ye may come in," Jocasta called out. The door opened and Ian walked in.
"I dinna mean te disturb ye, Great-Auntie. Uncle Jamie only sent me te ask-" He stopped talking when he saw Skylar.
"What was it ye needed, lad?" the older woman asked when nothing was said for nearly half a minute.
Phaedra, with a playful smile, went to her mistress and whispered, "It appears yer great-nephew is quite taken wi' Miss Kelley in her dress."
With him just staring at her, not saying anything, Skylar started to feel self-conscious.
"What? Do I-does it look okay?" she asked, nervous for his answer. If Ian didn't like how she looked in it, she would immediately take it off and never even think about it again.
"Yer the most exquisite creature I've ever laid eyes on," he told her. She felt her face get warm as she bit her lip to control the smile spreading on her face.
"Come, Phaedra, let's find me nephew and see what it is he wanted of me," Jocasta suggested.
"Aye, Mistress." The two women walked out, leaving the young couple alone.
"You really like it?" Skylar asked him again, needing the confirmation. "It's not too…I don't know."
"It's perfect, as are ye." He walked to her, and put one hand on her waist and the other under her hair at the base of her head. "Yer like an angel." He kissed her and she kissed him back, putting her hands on his back.
As they went on, Ian brought his other hand to her waist as well, and his grip on her tightened. His pace picked up as well. He started to kiss her in a way he never had before, different even from when they would make out. This had a strong sense of wanting behind it; which Skylar returned, feeling it as well.
He moved his mouth to her neck and kissed her down to her bare shoulder. Skylar's eyes closed and she took the back of his shirt in her fists. She let herself enjoy this warm and tingly new feeling for a minute until the memory of where they were suddenly hit her.
"Ian," she said, forcing his head up to face her. When she did that, he was immediately brought back to reality as well.
"Sorry," he said, breathing slightly heavier than usual. "Yer just so unthinkably beautiful, I lost meself fer a minute."
"So did I." She kissed him again much more gently, then said, "Maybe Jamie had a point about not wanting us alone in a room with a bed. If we're not careful, we just might get into that trouble he was so afraid of."